In the world of film and media, technologies and practices are constantly changing and evolving, giving me the opportunity to grow along with my students regularly. So, what have I been working on? I am currently looking into the process of becoming an Adjunct professor at Pasadena City College to teach college credit courses in the film and media disciplines to our students. I am also becoming a member of the Society of Camera Operators (SOC), one of the foremost societies for cameramen in the film industry. As a member, not only will I be able to work on industry projects, but I will also be able to teach camera operation to our students at the highest level.

From a technical aspect, I’ve been honing my skills as an editor. As a camera operator, most of our work is on the front end of the production process. Once our footage is handed off to the editors, we really only see a final product, and more often than not, the final product is not what we intended for. Through learning and receiving the Premiere Pro Certification through Adobe, I can also be recognized as an industry editor so that I can see my and my student's projects from the start to the end. As an Adobe school, I, along with our students, am participating in editing workshops not only towards the end of becoming a more productive editor but also to understand the struggles editors experience so that I might become a better camera operator.

In terms of some of the technology, I hope to fully master the Canon C70 by the end of the semester. The C70 is one of Canon’s many camera bodies within the Cinema EOS line. It is highlighted by a Super 35 Dual Gain Output sensor with over 16 stops of dynamic range and DIG!C DV7 image processing. It also is fitted with Dual Pixel CMOS auto-focus, giving users some of the best autofocus technology Canon has to offer. In addition, it sports an RF mount, allowing for easy use of all of the EF, RF, and PL ecosystems available for Canon bodies via lens adapters. All this to say, the C70 is a workhorse for its size and specifications, allowing me and the students in the center to practice with industry-grade cinema cameras. The C70 is also Netflix production-approved, meaning there are probably some TV shows or films you have seen on the numerous streaming sites that used the C70 as part of their equipment line-up. As a camera geek, it is incredible to practice and teach students on cameras like the C70 as I continue sharpening my filmmaking skills.

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By: Akinty Carter